The Greatest

Read John 13: 1-17

 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Big Idea: Those who follow Christ, serve like Jesus.

Jesus was fully God when He took off his outer garment and got down on His knees to wash His disciple’s feet. Knowing exactly who He was and that, “the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God”, it says, “he got up” and took the role of a servant. We read the impact this had on Peter. He seemed flabbergasted. The One who had healed the sick, raised the dead, and walked on water was now washing his stinky, dirty feet. But Jesus did this for them to show them what He was calling them to… a life of service.

Much later when Peter was old and the leader of the church, he writes in 1 Peter 5:2-3 to the elders to “be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Peter had learned the lesson that a life of leadership is not one of glory and power, but of service and sacrifice.

As we follow Jesus’ example as His disciple, He calls us to serve. These acts of service do not lessen our importance to God or alter our identity as His child. He is calling us to a better way. A counterculture response of personal sacrifice and giving, which validates and confirms the truth of the gospel more than any words we could ever say. Jesus set the example “that you should do as I have done for you.” So today pray and ask Him for opportunities to serve without applause and watch as He transforms your heart.

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